Sensitizing coating machine



Dec. 26, 1939. G. c. BEIDLER SENSITIZING COATING MACHINE Fiied Nov. 50, 19:57

10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Geoz Qe CZEezkZZer Dec. 26, 1939. s. c. BEIDLER SENSITIZING COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 TOR. 42 Z41;

ZZMMZ' ATTORNEYS" Dec. 26, 1939. s. c. BEIDLER I SENSITIZING COATING'MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 26, 1939. c. IBEIDLER ,185,04

SENSITIZING COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 G y 4;? k

G. c. BEIDLER SENSITIZING COATING MACHINE Dec. 26, 1939.

Filed Nov. 30, 1937 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 26, 1939. G. c. BEiDLER S ENSITIZING COATING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed NOV. 30, 1937 Dec. 26, 1939. s. c. BEIDLER SENSITIZING COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30; 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet T HHZ/AA Gaga 4. 5am

f l I I I I I II Dec. 26, 1939. 5, Q BElDLER 2,185,049

' SENSITIZING COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Elam/mm;

Dec. 26, 1939. c. BEIDLER 2,185,049

SENSITIZING COATING MACHINE Filed NOV. 30, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 @gifi 2] rvu cynic n Dee. 26, 1939. G. c. BEIDLER SENS ITIZING COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 v Wen/00W GU01 W 1 I Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES Zdhhdt 29 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for coating film with a sensitized emulsion, and the invention relates more particularly to a machine intended for use in coating two sides of a film simultaneously, and to means for transferring a web of film to conveying sticks or carriers which are moved through a tunnel for the purpose of subjecting the sensitizing coating to a drying agency.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel carrier for the .film, which carrier is asso ciated with a stick and provided with operative means to compensate for the expansion of the film when it is first subjected to the action of the emulsion and. the contraction of said film which gradually takes place as the film dries.

If the film is allowed to sag as it expands when it is moistened by the application of the emulsion, its transverse central portion is apt to contact with the stick and that, of course, will ruin the coating by rendering the said coating ununiform.

Hence, it has been found desirable, if not necessary, to maintain the film in a stretched state to guard against the aforesaid sagging action. By maintaining the film in a stretched state, uniformity in the thickness of the coating and drying of the film will take place, a condition which will not obtain if the film sags between its supporting elements.

The purposeof the inventor, therefore, is to maintain the film in a stretched state from the time it is coated until the emulsion sets or becomes hard and, to that end, the sticks are provided with film engaging segments of certain radius which will so arch or bridge the film as to further prevent sagging or breaking between its supported areas. Of course film of this character has to be held at its edges or near its edges by the supporting instrumentalities so that the whole area of the film, except perhaps at its eX- treme margins, can be coated.

While the term film has been used in a generic sense, the invention has its greatest utility in connection with the coating of paper film, since such-film has an increased expansive and contractive characteristic compared with other known carriers of emulsion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel means for applying the film to the carriers or the segments which are provided with pins for impaling or impinging the film, and novel means, as stated, are provided for pressing the paper on the pins and then freeing the car-- riers with the film attached thereto; the said impaling instrumentality being also associated with means for operating the film tensioning de-.

v(Cl. 271-452) Vice associated, in this embodiment of the invention, with the stick and the aforesaid segmental supports.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel means for intermittently conveying the 5 sticks and for holding them stationary for a time at a predetermined position, during which time the coating of the film continues and a loop or festoon is formed which depends from the carrier, as is customary in film coating machines where 19 the film in loops is conveyed through the usual tunnels for chilling and drying the emulsion. The coating machine itself and'the instrumentalities for conveying the coated film to the carriers is not a part of the present invention and need not be shown to a greater extent than where the filmis illustrated as being engaged in its travel from. the coating machine to the location where it is impaled on the carriers.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, 20 the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

' In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure l illustratesa semi-diagrammatic plan .3 View showing the general arrangement of the main parts of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a detail perspectiveof a portion of the right side of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation of a portion 3 of the right side of Fig. 1, the view being on an enlarged scale and on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 illustrates an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3 from the left side of that figure.

Figure 5 illustrates a view partly in elevation 40 and partly in section showing the general arrangement of the manner of feeding the web of paper, the view having details omitted to avoid confusion in the showing;

Figure 6 illustrates a detail perspective of the 45 parts on the left side of Fig. 1 corresponding to those on the right side as shown in Fig. 2;

Figure '7 illustrates aplan viewof a certain fixed cam arrangement used in connection with means for laterally stretching the paper web to pre- 50 vent wrinkling thereof;

Figure 8 illustrates a section on the line 8& of Fig. 7;

Figure 9 illustrates a section on the line t il s v 545 of Fi 12;

Figure 14 illustrates a section on the line |4 |4 of Fig. 12;

Figure 15 illustrates a section on the line 66 of Fig, 11;

Figure 16 illustrates an end elevation of Fig. 11, taken from the right of Fig. 11;

Figure 17 illustrates a large scale elevation of J one of the main feed rolls and the parts carried thereby;

Figure 18 illustrates an edge view of a portio of a main feed roll showing a part of the edge not disclosed in Fig. 17; i

Figure 19 illustrates a section on the line |9-| 9 of Fig. 18;

Figure 20 illustrates a face view of the main feed roll with the parts carried thereby and also showing auxiliary feed rolls associated with th main roll;

Figure 21 illustrates a side elevation of a cover plate shOWn in Figure 20, and disclosing the manner in which the plate is secured;

Figure 22 illustrates a side elevation of a certain camming roll and its bracket as shown in Fig. 20;

Figure 23 illustrates a section on the line 23-23 of Fig. 17;

Figure 24 illustrates a section on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23;

Figure 25 illustrates an edge view of a certain eccentric ring and blade disclosed in Fig. 23;

Figure 26 illustrates an edge View of a portion of one of the main feed rolls showing a certain paper web clipping or holding means and part of its operating mechanism;

Figure 27 illustrates a section through the feed roll of Fig. 26 and showing an elevation of the clipping means and operating mechanism at right angles to the manner in which the parts are shown in Fig. 26; V

Figure 28 illustrates a section on the line 28-28 of Fig. 26; t

Figure 29 illustrates a detail section on the line 2929 of Fig. 20;

Figure 30 illustrates a detail section on the line 2323 of Fig. 17, but in the opposite direction to the arrows on said line;

Figure 31 illustrates an enlarged section on the line 3|-3| of Fig. 30;

Figure 32 illustrates a face view of a certain cam used in connection with a main feed roll;

Figure 33 illustrates a side view of the cam shown in Fig. 32;

Figure 34 illustrates a second side view of said cam at right angles to Fig. 33;

Figure 35 illustrates a developed diagram of said cam;

Figure 36 illustrates a plan view of one of the main feed rolls and the parts adjacent thereto;

Figure 37 illustrates a side elevation of certain of the parts shown in Figure 36, the view disclosing the driving means and a rocking bracket used in the invention;

Figure 38 illustrates a fragmentary section on the line 3838 of Figure 36 and showing the gearing connecting certain shafts; and

Figure 39 illustrates an enlarged showing in side elevation of a certain means used herein to-effect tripping of a latch to start the main feed roller rotating.

In general, as shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus includes a pair of spaced rails A across which a shaft extends carrying a pair of main feed rolls.

B provided with mechanisms for various purposes which are not shown in Fig. 1 but are fully shown in other figures. ber of carrier rods, generally known in the art as sticks, one of which is shown at C, and chains D for moving the sticks along the rails A. It is to be clearly understood that Fig. 1 is merely a'diagram for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the complete device, described hereinafter in detail, is assembled. Accordingly, no attempt has been made to include details in Fig. 1, as such details would be to such a small scale that they would confuse rather than add to an understanding of the invention.

Each of the rails A comprises a vertical portion ill and a horizontal flange I the said rails being arranged parallel to each other and inclined upwardly from the feed ends. The horizontal Also,'there is provided a numflanges of the two rails lie in the same plane and tions I5, which portions l5 are continued through the slides |2 andterminate in ends l6 projecting beyond the rails. The conveyor chains D pass just below the projecting ends I 6 and each of these chains consists of a pair of relatively fast moving chains l! each of which extends parallel to the rails A for some distance and then runs down over a sprocket 8. as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Alongside of the inclined portion of each chain I1 is a relatively slow moving chain l9 which travels up along a rail A beyond the sprocket l8. On the chain I! are spaced lugs, one of which is shown at 20, and similarly the chain. l9 carries spaced lugs, one of which is shown at 2|. Secured to each rail A is a bracket 22 which is positioned just above the sprocket l8. This bracket carries a depending pawl 23 lying in the path of the end It of rod I3'of the sticks moved by the chains, and the pawl is held in normal position by a stop 24. This pawl has an end adapted to engage the upper rear angle of the end I6, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. With this arrangement, each stick C is moved up along the rails A slowly by engagement of the lugs 2| with the ends. l6 of the stick until it comes into position with the ends in above the fast moving chain, whereupon it is engaged by lugs 2|! and moved away from the lugs 2| and up past the pawls 23 which engage the ends l6 and prevent the stick from slipping back down the inclined rails A. The stick is held in this position, since the lugs 20 pass down over the sprockets l8 and disengage from the ends l6, until the lugs 2| again overtake and engage the ends I5, whereupon the stick is again moved slowly forward on the rails A.

During the time that the stick is stationary and is held by the pawls 23, it supports the sensie tized film which has been applied to it when the stick has moved into cooperative relation with other parts of the apparatus, as will presently sleeve 44'. While the wheel 45 is revolubly appear. During the dwell or period when the stick is at rest as aforesaid, additional coated film is being fed in well known manner to a degree or length which will form a festoon or loop which hangs down from the stick. When the loop or festoon has reached a predetermined length, the lugs 2i on the moving chain l9 reaches the position of rest of the stick held by the pawl and the said stick is then conveyed upwardly through a suitable chamber, such as a chilling chamber, and to a drying tunnel such" as commonly employed during the finishing process to which emulsified films are subjected. The stick may be moved under the influence of the lugs 2| prior to the time that the loop or festoon has developed its full length and additional lengths of the film may be delivered during the movement of the said stick toward the chamber or tunnel.

Fixed to one octagonal portion I4 of the stick, at one of its ends, is an arcuate paper support having outwardly projecting radial prongs 26. At the other octagonal portion l4, there is provided a saddle 21 which is fixed to the rod and carries a rectangular tube 28 wherein is slidably fitted a plunger 29 which has an end projecting toward the center of the stick and on this end is fixed a paper support 35 corresponding to the paper support 25 at the other end and, like it, having prongs 3!. The bar or plunger 29 also projects from the other end of the tube 28 and carries an upstanding pin 32. On the tube 28 is a bracket 33 and on the inner end of the plunger 29 is a pin 34, this bracket and. the pin forming anchors for a tension spring 35 which urges the paper support toward the adjacent end It. The rail A near this end of the stick is provided with a bracket 36 close to the roll B on this side, and this bracket 36 carries a camming bar 37 (see Figs. 7 and 8) arranged with an end portion 39 engaging the pin 32 as the stick approaches the roll B to move the paper support inwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12, and then to carry it in this position under and past the roll B to be engaged by a spring cam 45 carried by a spacer 38 and arranged to aid the spring in retracting the paper support 35 toward the adjacent end I6. This action takes place as the stick C moves under the influence of the chains ll. As will be presently explained, a paper web is engaged adjacent its side edges by the prongs 26 and 3! as the stick passes beneath the rolls B and the movement of the paper support 36 causes an engagement of the prongs and then, stretching of the paper web by the spring Because it is undesirable to apply too much stretching stress, the spring cam 40 is made to yield upon the proper stress being reached.

lhe main feed rolls are each supported on a shaft 4! carried by one arm of a bell crank bracket 42 and these rolls are respectively right and left hand. Revolubly mounted on each shaft 4| is a sleeve 42 whereon is fixed a sprocket 43 drivenby a chain 44. Splined on the sleeve 42 is a sleeve 44 whereon is revolubly mounted the main feed wheel 45, the sleeve 42 extending entirely through the sleeve 44' and thus projecting through the wheel 45. Fixed. on the projecting end of the shaft M is a cam 46 having the face adjacent the wheel provided with a high segment 41, an intermediate segment 48 and a low segment 49. Fixed on the wheel 45 is a bracket 50 carrying a cam roller 5! which bears constantly on the cam face, being held thereagainst by a spring 52 surrounding the sleeve 42' between the sprocket 43 and the adjacent end of the mounted on the sleeve 44', aratchet 53 is fixed on the sleeve and revolves therewith as the sprocket is actuated, the latter rotating constantly during the operation of the machine. Pivoted on the wheel 45 is a pawl 54 urged by a spring 55 into engagement with the ratchet 53. A stop 56 engages the pawl tail 51 upon each complete revolution of the wheel 45 and causes it to disengage from the ratchet 53, the extent of disengagement being limited by a stop 58 fixed on the wheel 45.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5, the paper web P is fed at each edge down chains 59 each passing around a sprocket 60. These sprockets 60 are mounted on a shaft 60a extending across the machine and suitably supported at each side thereof. The brackets 42 are rockingly mounted at their angles onthe shaft 60a. The chains 59 are provided at intervals with paper engaging pins 59a. From the chains 59 the web P passes over an auxiliary feed roller 6! and a second and smaller feed roller 62.- This auxiliary feed roller has a sponge rubber periphery tic. Since the timing of the. parts is such that the movement of the stick C under the inover the rollers iii and 52. In order to free the rollers iii and E2 so that the paper will not be gripped between them and the wheel 45, there mounted on the rear. face of the wheel 45 a set of pins 63 which are disposed at the angles of .an equilateral triangle and are so positioned that the center of a circle circumscribed about these pins and tangent thereto will be disposed eccentrically to the center of the wheel. As best shown in Fig. 24, there is mounted on each of these pins a revoluble sleeve 54 and a spacing sleeve (55 is mounted on each pin to rest against the wheel 45, the spacing sleeves terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the sleeves 54. On the projecting ends of the sleeves 64 is mounted a ring as which is thus supported as an eccentric strap, the sleeve and pin arrangement forming an eccentric embraced by this strap. The ring or strap 65 is held in position on the sleeves 64 by caps til secured to the ends of the pins 63 by screws 5! Attached to the ring 66 is a bracket 69 which carries an eccentric blade or rod Ill. Swingingly mounted on a .frame rod 'H is an arm i2 carrying a stub shaft 13 whereon the I roller Eil is revolubly mounted. On the blade 70 adjacent its free end is a sleeve 14 wherein the stub shaft 13 is slidably mounted so that the alinement with the lever by a spring '58. This arm carries at its free end the roller 62.

With this arrangement the eccentric acts, as

the wheel 45 rotates, to alternately move the rollers toward and from the wheel 45.

In order to grip the paper firmly between the wheel 45 and the paper supports 30 as they pass beneath the wheel and also to allow for the movement of the sticks slower than the wheel,

there is provided a pocket 19 formed in the periphery of the wheel and extending arcuately therearound. In this pocket is fitted an arcuate slide'80 of channel shape in cross section and the channel is filled with an arcuate mass BI of sponge rubber which, as shown in Figs. 18-19, normally projects beyond the periphery of the wheel 45. The slide is normally held at what may be termed the forward or advancing end of the pocket by springs 82 which have their forward ends fixed to posts 83 and their rear ends fixed to brackets 83' by screws 8% passing to the slide through arcuate slots 05 formed in the side faces of the wheel45, as shown in Fig. 20. The movement of the sticks and the rotation of the wheel it are so timed that a paper support 30 engages the forward end of the mass 8| at each revolution of the wheel 45. As the wheel 45 has a greater peripheral speed, due to the member 25 on the stick elevating the wheel shown in Fig. 6, than the lineal speed of the sticks, the continuance of the rotation of the wheel causes the latter to move faster than the mass can move, so that the wheel advances to cause the slide to be engaged by the rear end of the pocket I9. Then, as the stick passes clear of the arcuate mass, the springs which have been tensioned by the movement just described, retract the slide to its normal position. It will be noted that the screws 04 serve to hold the slide in its pocket.

At a certain part of the revolution of the Wheel, it is desirable to hold the edge of the paper web close to the periphery of the wheel 45 while, during the remainder of the revolution, it is desirable that the paper web be free from the wheel. The paper web is held from the time it leaves the feed chains 59 until it is engaged on the stick after which it is freed. To acother end of the plunger carries a rack. 09 on the end of which is fixed a bracket 90 which supports one end of a coiled compression spring SI having its end supported by the wheel 15. This spring urges the finger to operative position (Fig. 26). The rack 89 meshes with a gear 92 fixed on a shaft 93 journaled in a bracket M- fixed to the front face of the wheel 45. A bracket $5 may also aid in supporting the shaft 93. On the shaft 93 is fixed an operating lever 25 which normally extends angularly forward with refer ence to the direction of rotation of the wheel from the shaft 93. The shaft ll is provided with a head 91 (Fig. 20) to which there is fixed a plate 98 carrying an arm 99. This arni supports a blade I which lies in the path of the lever 96 as the wheel 45 rotates. When the lever 95 engages the blade I 00, the rotation of the wheel causes the lever to swing in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 20 and this, through the gear and rack, retracts the finger 88, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 26. As soon as the lever 96 passes the blade 00, the spring 9I returns the finger to normal position. This retraction of the finger occurs just at that point in the revolution of the wheel at which the finger approaches the paper web P. The return tonormal occurs as soon as the finger passes the plane of the paper web so that the finger then engages the paper web and holds it to the periphery of the wheel. On the plate 98 is fixed a bracket IOI (Fig. 20) which supports a fixed shaft I02 whereon is pivoted an end of arm I03, the shaft being eccentric to the axis of the wheel 45. The plate 98 carries a stop I04 against which the arm is normally held by a spring I05. A stop I05 limits movement of the arm I03 against the action of the spring I05. This arm carries a blade I01 which is in sliding and overlapping contact with a blade I08 mounted on a fixed bracket I09. The blades I01 and I08 lie in the path of the lever 96 which is operated to retract the finger 88 by the action of the blade I00. On

the front face of the wheel 45'is fixed a post H0 The post III is so positioned in relation to the shaft 93 that upon the blade I07 being released from the post, this blade will engage and quickly turn the lever 96 to finger-retracting position, thus releasing the paper Web. The lever 95 will continue in finger-retracting position until. it rides off the blade I08, whereupon it will be returned to normal position by the action of the spring 9I.

Provision is made to keep the paper web from slipping during the first part of its engagement by the finger 83 so that it cannot accidentally slide from between the finger and wheel 45. To this end, the wheel 45 is provided, adjacent the finger 88, with a radial bore Iii wherein is mounted a plunger II2carrying a needle I I3. The outer end of this bore is closed by a needle guide I I I and the needle is held normally retracted by a spring II5 (Fig. 28). In the plunger H2 is provided an opening IIS wherein is fitted the end of a pin III projecting through a slot II 8 formed in the front face of the Wheel 45. This pin is supported by the free end of an arm H9 pivotally mounted on a bracket I20 on the front face of the wheel 45 and the pin projects from the arm and carries a cam roller I2I (Figs. 27 and 29). On the cam M5 is a camming lug I22 which projects peripherally from the cam and is positioned to be engaged by the cam roller I2I just before the lever 08 passes off of the blade I00. By this engagement the needle is projected and passes through the paper web to hold the latter from slipping until the I23 fixed therein. As shown best in Fig. 37, the

shaft I23 has a sprocket I24 mounted thereon and the chain M extends around the sprocket I24 as well as the sprocket 43. It will be noted that in Fig. 37 many parts are omitted in order toshow the arrangement of the remaining parts without confusion. On the shaft I23 is also mounted a gear I25 which is connected to the sprocket I24 by screws I26 passing through spacing sleeves I2'I. A collar I28 serves to hold the sprocket I24 and gear I25 on the shaft I23. It will be seen in Fig. 36 that there are two sprockets 60. One of these sprockets 65 is connected by screws I29 and spacers I39 with a gear I3I mounted on the shaft 60a and meshing with m the gear I25. By this means the shaft 4! is constantly driven even when the wheel 45 is raised by the stick passing beneath it.

Mounted on each side rail is a bracket I32 to which is pivoted one end of a trip arm I33. This arm lies in the path of the sticks C so that as each stick moves along the rail A it passes bemath and lifts the arms I33. A clamp I34 secures the sheath I35 of a Bowden wire I35 to the bracket I32. The wire I36 is secured to the arm I33 as by a screw I31. The remaining end of the sheath is secured by a clamp I38 to an arm I39 carried by a bracket I40 fixed to the bell crank 42. The latch arm 56 is pivoted to the bracket I40 as at I4I so asto form a two-armed lever, one arm of which normally engages the pawl tail 51. The Bowden wire I36 is secured to the remaining arm of this lever by a screw I42. spring I43 connects this last arm and the bracket I40 so that the latch arm 56 is constantly urged into position to engage the tail 51-.

Normally the wheels 45 are at rest, but as a stick C passes the trip arms I33, these arms lift and push on the Bowden wire so that the latches 56 are freed from the pawl tails 51 and the pawls 54 engage the constantly rotating ratchets 53 and the wheels 45 start to rotate. As soon as the stick C passes from beneath the trip arms I33, these arms are free to fall'and the springs I43 act to restore the latch 56 to-pawl tail engaging position so that upon the completion of one revolution of the wheels 45, the pawls 54 are disengaged from the ratchets 53 and the wheels 45 cease to move. Thus the sticks are moved in succession beneath the trip arms I33 and then beneath the wheels 45. As the sticks are thus moved, each Wheels 45 is intermittently engaged, by the action of the trip lever, to its continuously revolving ratchet 53, each engagement causing one complete revolution. of the wheel. As the wheel rotates, the finger 08 is first retracted and then released to engage the paper web as it is fed to the'wheel. As soon as engagement is effected, the needle I I3 is actuated to pierce and hold the paper web at which time it is engaged by the roller BI through the action of the eccentric strap 66. The finger 88 continues to hold the paper web until the edge of the paper web is gripped between the stick and the arcuate mass 8|, after which the blade I01 acts to retract the finger 88 and release the paper web which is now draped over the stick. During this time, the cam arrangement at one side of the machine has moved one paper support 30 toward the other so that the paper web is engaged by the prongs 3| in such manner that, upon the pin 32 moving ofi its cam, the paper web will be in laterally stretched condition. Further movement of the wheel 45 restores all parts thereon to normal position and the wheel temporarily ceases to revolve so that a proper length of paper web may be fed from the feed chains to form a bight before the next stick arrives beneath the wheel 45.

I claim:

1. In a'sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having laterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling.

2. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having laterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of. the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, and means for moving the supports relatively longitudinally of the member for carrying film,

to compensate for expansion and contraction of coating and operative to'prevent such buckling,

and film impaling members projecting from the film supports.

4. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having laterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, film impaling members projecting from the film supports, and means for forcing film on the impaling members.

5. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having laterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, film impaling members projecting from the film supports, means for forcing film on the impaling members, means for conveying the members successively past the means for forcing film on the impaling members, and means for successively holding the members supporting the film. periodically stationary.

6. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having curved film supports, means for holding film on said supports, means whereby relative movement of the supports longitudinally of the member for carrying film is produced, and means for applying the film to the means for holding film on the supports.

7. In a sensitzing coating machine, means for carrying film including film supports, means for conveying said means, feed wheels operative in conjunction with the film supports for applying film thereto, means for moving the feed wheels into and out of operative relation to the film supports, and means for intermittently rotating the feed wheels.

8. In a sensitizing coating machine, a feed wheel the periphery of which is engaged by a film during the feeding of the film, a film carrier with which the wheel coacts, said film carrier having spurs on which the film is pressed during the operation of the wheel and the movement of the film support, the said wheel having an arouate pocket, an arcuate slide in the said pocket,

' yieldable material in the slide for engaging film and forcing it on the spurs, and means for holding the slide in normal position and yieldable to permit the slide to move in the pocket.

9. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, and means to produce transverse stretching of the portions of the web extending over the respective sticks.

10. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, arch members carried by said sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to support edge portions of the web, means carried by the arch members to engage and hold said edge portions of the web, and means urging said arch members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supported portions of the web.

11. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, members carried by said sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to sup-port edge portions of the web, means carried by the members to engage and hold said edge portions of the web, means urging said members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supported portions of the web, and means to move one of said members toward the other upon each stick being in position to receive the web.

12. In a web festooning mechanism, a web carrier, feed rolls at the end of said carrier and against the peripheries of which the web may be forced, said rolls being located at opposite edges of the web, each of said rolls having a web contacting portion slidable circumferentially of the roll, spring means urging said contacting portion in the direction of revolution of the rolls, and a series of spaced sticks movable in succession beneath said rolls and over which the web is draped.

13. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, means to produce transverse stretching of the portions of the web extending over the respective sticks, and means to force the web into engagement with the last mentioned means.

14. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the (inferential mover ment of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, arch members carried by said sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to' support edge portions of the web, means carried by the arch members to engage and hold said edge portions of the web, means to force the Web into engagement with the last mentioned means,

and means urging said arch members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supportedv tooning of said web, members, carried by said" sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to support edge portions of the web, means carried by the,

members to engage and hold said edge portions of the web, means to force the web into engagement with the last mentioned means, means urg' ing said members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supported portions of the web, and means to move one of said memberstoward the other upon each stick being in position to receive the Web.

16. In a web drying machine, a pair ofparallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops 'of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and. arranged and constructed to produce the difierential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce iestooning of said web, means to produce transverse stretching of the portions of the web ex-'- tending over the respective sticks, and a pair of rollers beneath which said web passes, said rollers being positioned for engagement by the last mentioned means successively.

17. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, arch members carried bysaid sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to support edge portions of the web, means carried by the arch members to engage and hold said edge por-v tions of the web, a pair of penetrable wheels beneath which said arch members ride whereby the web is forced into engagement with the last mentioned means, and means urging said arch members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supported portions of the web.

18. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable'therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, members carried by said whereby to transversely, stretoh 'the supported 75 which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, means for moving the supports relatively longitudinally of the member for carrying film, to compensate for expansion and contraction of the film, and means for forcing the film into engagement with said supports.

20. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having laterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, means for moving the supports relatively longitudinally of the member for carrying film, .to compensate for expansion and contraction of the film, and presser wheels beneath which said curved film supports ride whereby the film is forced into engagement with said supports.

21. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members havinglaterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, film impaling members projecting from the film supports, and penetrable wheels-beneath which said film supports and film ride whereby the film is impaled on said members.

22. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having laterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, film im paling members projecting from the film supports, and means for forcing film on the impaling members and having penetrable portions.

23. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having laterally spaced curved film supports engageable only at the edge portions of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, film impaling members projecting from the film supports, means for forcing film on the impaling members and having penetrable portions, means for conveying the members successively past the means for forcing film on the impaling members, and means for successively holding the members supporting the film periodically stationary.

24. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having curved film supports, means for holding film on said supports, means whereby relative movement of the supports longitudinally of the member for carrying film is produced, and means for applying the film to the means for holding film on the supports and having penetrable portions.

25. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning'of said web, arch members carried by said sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to support edge portions of the web, means carried by the arch members to. engage and hold said edge. portions of the Web, a pair of Wheels beneath which said arch members pass, penetrable pads mounted on said wheels for movement peripherally thereof and engaging said arch members as they pass beneath the wheels, and means urging said arch members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supported portions of the web.

26. In a Web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed beneath which said arch members ride whereby I the web is forced into engagement with the last mentioned means, means for rotatably supporting said wheels for swinging movement into and out of the path of said arch members, and means urging said arch members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supported portions of the web.

27. In a web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealong, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, members carried by said sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to support edge portions of the web, means carried by the members to engage and hold said edge portions of the web, a pair of penetrable Wheels beneath which said arch members ride whereby the web is forced into engagement with the last mentioned means, means for rotatably supporting said wheels for swinging movement into and out of the path of said arch members, means urging said members apart whereby to transversely stretch the supported portions of the web, and means to move one of said members toward the other upon each stick being in position to receive the Web.

28. In a sensitizing coating machine, means for carrying film comprising members having curved laterally spaced film supports engageable only at the edge portion of a coated film, the radii of which are of such magnitude as to cause arching of the supported film proportional to its buckling resistance when carrying an emulsion coating and operative to prevent such buckling, film impaling members projecting from the film supports, penetrable wheels beneath which said film supports and film ride whereby the film is impaled on said members, and swinging supports for said wheels constructed and arranged to permit upward swinging movement of the wheels upon passage therebeneath of the film sup-ports.

29. In a Web drying machine, a pair of parallel tracks, a series of sticks extending between said tracks and movable therealo-ng, means to feed a web over the tops of said sticks, means to advance the sticks along the tracks and arranged and constructed to produce the differential movement of adjacent sticks whereby to produce festooning of said web, arch members carried by said sticks adjacent the ends of the sticks to support edge portions of the Web, means carried by the arch members to engage. and hold said" edge portions of the web, a pair of wheels beneath.

as they pass beneath the wheels, swinging arms supporting said Wheels for upward movement as the arch members pass therebeneath, and means urging said arch members apart whereby t0 transversely stretch the supported portions of v the web.

GEORGE C. BEIDLER. v 

